Judges Mathis, Traynor to switch divisions

Circuit Judge Robert Mathis, who has ruled on felony crimes since 1997, will be shifting to circuit civil, probate and guardianship. Mathis will continue to oversee drug court.

Circuit Judge J. Michael Traynor, who has ruled on civil proceedings since 2001, will be taking over felony crimes. Traynor said he will realign the felony crimes division by adding juvenile delinquency cases, which he currently oversees.

Mathis and Traynor will take on their new roles Sept. 20, which marks the beginning of trial week for both judges.

"I've enjoyed it, but it's really time to change," Mathis said, adding he is looking to retire in the coming years and wanted another judge to get consistent experience in the felony crimes division before he steps away from the bench.

Traynor also welcomed the change to come. "I think any time you change it affords you the opportunity to get a different perspective on things," he said.

Mathis said the judges met last month to discuss rotating benches. He said part of the reason he wanted to step away from the criminal division was because he recused himself in July from overseeing trials that dealt with people accused of vehicular manslaughter.

Mathis lost his son and daughter-in-law when they were killed in a wreck on their way home from their honeymoon in March.

"If I can't be fair, I don't want to handle it," Mathis said.

He doesn't want to put the burden on other judges to oversee these cases, which helped in his decision to change benches, he said.

Circuit Judge Julianne Piggotte, chief judge for the 7th Judicial Circuit, oversees administrative matters in the circuit. She said it is common for judges to switch divisions after extended times in an area of the law.

"We don't have a fixed rotation period," Piggotte said of Florida's judges. "Every so often, judges like to go to new assignments to keep fresh in different areas in the law."

She said as Sept. 20 gets closer, she will enter the administrative order to make the changes effective.

Mathis said because he and Traynor have the same trial weeks, they can assist each other if one of them has a light schedule during trials.

He said he has enjoyed his years as a felony criminal judge, but thinks civil proceedings might be a bit less stressful. "Instead of people's lives and people's freedoms, you're dealing with money," he said.

Traynor agreed changes were on the horizon. "I'm looking forward to it," he said.